It’s almost draft night again — but this one’s already got its own twist. The WNBA’s first round will feature only 12 picks this year instead of the usual 13. Why? Las Vegas lost its first-rounder due to a league rules violation. That puts even more eyes on the teams stacking up picks — especially the Dallas Wings, who hold important picks (No. 1, No. 12, and No. 14). Connecticut is in the mix too, with back-to-back picks at No. 7 and No. 8.
This year’s draft will take place at The Shed at Hudson Yards in New York City on April 14, with ESPN airing the action live starting at 7:30 p.m. ET. A stacked lineup of prospects — including Connecticut’s Paige Bueckers, USC’s Kiki Iriafen, LSU’s Aneesah Morrow, and TCU’s Hailey Van Lith — will be in the building, waiting to hear their names called.
As the spotlight shifts to the next generation, let’s rewind.
Who were the top picks in the last five drafts, and what have they done since stepping into the league? Let’s start with the No. 1 picks — from 2020 through 2024 — and track where they are now.
Who Are the Top Three Picks of the Last Five WNBA Drafts? Which Team Do They Play for Now?
1. Caitlin Clark – Indiana Fever (2024)
If we’re talking about top picks in recent memory, Caitlin Clark instantly comes to mind — and for good reason. In 2024, the Indiana Fever had the easiest draft decision in the world. After Clark shattered scoring records and took Iowa to back-to-back NCAA finals, passing on her would’ve been malpractice. The Fever needed a star. Clark was that and more.
Her debut, though, was a mixed bag — 20 points, but 10 turnovers — and yet, it didn’t take long for her to settle in. She made the All-Star Game as a rookie, notched multiple triple-doubles, and even broke the WNBA’s single-season assist record. Her deep threes were just part of the story. The Fever made the playoffs for the first time since 2016, and Clark walked away with a near-unanimous Rookie of the Year win and an All-WNBA First Team nod.
2. Rhyne Howard – Atlanta Dream (2022)
A year before Boston, the Atlanta Dream made a move to grab the No. 1 pick from Washington and used it to select Rhyne Howard in 2022. At 6’2″, Howard brought length, a lightning-quick shot, and a defensive edge that made her the total package. She hit the ground running in Atlanta — Rookie of the Month every month, Rookie of the Year at season’s end, and an All-Star selection to boot. Fast-forward to 2025, and Howard’s résumé keeps growing.
She also helped Team USA’s 3×3 squad earn bronze at the Paris Olympics. Sharp shooting? Check. Quick reads? Check. And she’s still just getting started. With Atlanta undergoing a coaching reset and adding new faces in free agency, Howard’s now the veteran voice and leader steering the ship.
3. Sabrina Ionescu – New York Liberty (2020)
In 2020, Liberty used the No. 1 pick to grab Sabrina Ionescu out of Oregon State — a NCAA all-time leader in triple-doubles and College Player of the Year. Though Ionescu had a terrible start thanks to a left ankle injury, she didn’t waste time proving she belonged the very next season. In only her third game in 2021, she landed a triple-double, becoming the fastest WNBA player to do so. Soon enough, Ionescu was leading the league in 3-pointers, with 128 recorded in a single season and had set a record in Three-point shootout contest with 37– highest in men’s or women’s.
2024 was even better as the guard not only grabbed her first 5×5 Olympic gold, but also led the Liberty to its second-consecutive championship game, and this time, ended up lifting the trophy. It was the franchise’s first-ever. From a team that finished 2019 with 10-24 to a team being one to beat.
So, what’s the trend here? The WNBA’s top picks don’t just get the hype — many are delivering on it in a big way. And as we look ahead to another draft, with generational names like Bueckers and Iriafen in the mix, it’s worth remembering: these picks can change teams.
How did the top picks of the last five WNBA Drafts perform in the 2024 season? Who has won a championship?
1. Caitlin Clark
The Indiana Fever guard didn’t just arrive—she exploded into the league, guiding a franchise that had been stuck in the cellar right into the playoffs. It was one of those rare rookie campaigns that felt bigger than basketball. Clark’s impact was everywhere—TV ratings, merch sales, little girls mimicking her logo threes in driveways, and oh yeah, wins.
She averaged 19.2 points, 8.4 assists, 5.7 boards and led the entire league in three-pointers made. Her 329 assists are a single-season WNBA record and 761 points, broke the record set by Seimone Augustus. First Team All-WNBA. All-Rookie Team. A nightly highlight reel. Honestly, the only challenge with Clark’s résumé is fitting it all on one social post without squinting. But the Fever’s rise wasn’t just the Caitlin Clark show.
2. Aliyah Boston
Boston’s transition into the WNBA had its moments of adjustment, as she admitted early on. “There are bigger posts in the pro level,” she said after her debut. But by the third game of her rookie season, she’d already helped Indiana to its first win, and in 2024, she was anchoring one of the league’s most exciting frontcourts. The chemistry between her and Clark has the Fever faithful dreaming again.
She averaged 14.0 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and recorded 5 double-doubles just a month into the season. She also surpassed franchise record of 335 rebounds with 355 rebounds corralled in 2024 to also finish seventh in the league. Then in a game against Connecticut Suns in August, she hit 1000-career points mark.
3. Rhyne Howard
Howard’s been nothing short of electric. After a Rookie of the Year campaign, she remained an efficient scorer. Her 33 points, three rebounds, six assists performance against Dallas Wings, made her the first Dream player since Angel McCoughtry in 2013 to put up consecutive 30+ point performances. Later in the season, she passed Angel McCoughtry for No. 2 on the Dream’s All-Time 3-pointers list and became the youngest player in WNBA history (24 years and 43 days) to reach 200 career 3-pointers.
Howard ended the season averaging 17.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. She also became the first Dream player to reach the Olympic podium since 2016.
4. Charli Collier
Then there’s Charli Collier, the 2021 No. 1 pick, who found a solid rhythm with the Dallas Wings after some early growing pains. Though not as flashy or headline-grabbing as her peers, Collier did the dirty work—leading all rookies in rebounding her first year and bringing consistency to the frontcourt. She became just the 16th player in league history to record a double-double in her debut. But in 2024, she did not play for the W.
Since 2022, the forward has taken her game to Italy, Israel, Mexico, Poland and China. In 2024, she signed with the UC Capitals of the WNBL in Australia. Mid-December, she had a resurgence, putting up 27 points and 22 rebounds for her best performance of the season.
5. Sabrina Ionescu
In 2024, Ionescu made headlines during NBA All-Star Weekend by going shot-for-shot with Stephen Curry in a historic 3-point contest, drawing millions of viewers. It was another milestone, another moment showing just how far women’s basketball has come—and how central Ionescu is to that movement. Off the court, her Nike “Sabrina 1” shoes became a must-have for hoopers across all levels. She finished her season, averaging 18.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game.
But when it comes to championships? Only Sabrina Ionsecu has managed one. She hit one of the most notable clutch threes of the WNBA in Game 3 of the finals. She calls it, “definitely the biggest shot of my career.” The final second 28-foot 3-pointer had taken the Liberty closer than before to the title. And the team capitalized on it.
Of the last five No. 1 picks, Clark has already changed the game before even getting a postseason win. Howard, Collier, Boston—they’ve all made their mark in different ways, with the promise of more to come. And Ionescu has the trophy. But don’t blink. With this much talent stacked across the league, there’s more to come.
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